Google Nexus 7 ~❤

The Google Nexus 7 is said to be the most value-for-money tablet with high-end specs developed by Google and Asus. The Google Nexus 7 features a 7-inch (180 mm) display, an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 or 16 GB of internal storage. Incorporating built-in Wi-Fi and near field communication (NFC) connectivity, it is marketed as an entertainment device with integration with Google Play, serving as a platform for multimedia consumption of e-books, television programs, films, games, and music. The tablet was the first device to ship with Android version 4.1, nicknamed "Jelly Bean". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nexus_7) It was first launched in the States on 13th July 2012.

Due to the fact that the official launch date in Singapore was 29th September 2012, many Singaporeans have shipped their Google Nexus 7 directly from the States, just to get their hands on this awesome gadget. I decided to get one for my boyfriend as he is a very techie person and he had been following the news about the Google Nexus 7, drooling over it every now and then.

We managed to get the last set from Challenger at S$399. To our surprise, we realized that although there was not much advertising on the Google Nexus 7 locally as compared to the Apple iPads, most of the stocks in Singapore were almost wiped out instantly. Many of our peers were also waiting for the stocks to replenish before they can get their hands on the Google Nexus 7. So what is the hype about this new gadget developed by Google and Asus?

Firstly, the packaging of the Google Nexus 7 is quite simple. However, when we opened up and picked up the Google Nexus 7, we found that it is very aesthetically pleasing, especially its textured dimple-like back that sits snug in two hands making it ideal for prolonged use. Weighing in at 340g, the Google Nexus 7 is lighter than the Amazon Kindle Fire (413g) and Samsung Tab 10.1 (565 g). Although the slight difference, the weight will be significant when the gadget is used for prolonged period. As my boyfriend had the Samsung Tab 10.1 previously, he felt that the 10.1 tablet is too big to be carried around, and he feels that this 7-inch tablet is just nice to be carried around. The weight is also very ideal for the portability factor. While the Google Nexus 7 is primarily made of plastic and glass, it certainly does not feel cheap. On the contrary, it feels almost as "premium" as one of Apple's iPads.

The 1280 x 800 HD display with 216 PPI might not be the best in the market, but it is definitely good for watching movies, browsing the web or even reading e-books. We have used the Google Nexus 7 to read our e-books and e-magazines, and we have no encounter any issue reading them. The zooming is crystal clear and reading on it is very pleasant. My boyfriend previously also has the Archos 70, which was almost impossible to read any e-books or e-magazines on it. As compared to the Samsung Tab 10.1, there is not much of a difference here.

Packed with a Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip and 1 GB of RAM, we find the Google Nexus 7 beating the Samsung Tab 10.1 and Archos 70 hands down. The speed is amazing and we can say that there is almost no lag at all. In addition, swiping through screens is fast and responsive, unlike the Samsung Tab 10.1, we felt some lag once in a while.



The Google Nexus 7 is also the first Android device to run on Jelly Bean, the latest version of Google’s mobile OS. Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, is the fastest and smoothest version of Android yet. Jelly Bean improves on the simplicity and beauty of Android 4.0, and introduces a new Google search experience on Android. (http://www.android.com/whatsnew/)

To sum up, the Google Nexus 7 is one of the best tablet in the market with a shocking price of S$399 (16 GB), which we feel that there are no other tablet in the market that offers such great specs at such a tempting price. The Google Nexus 7 might not be considered an iPad rival in terms of the content available and the OS, however, it is definitely a must-buy for people who want a ultra-portable android tablet with the one of the best specs out in the market now. It’s a 7-inch heaven for watching movies, browsing the web and playing games, and could be the first Android device to truly challenge the iPad in terms of sales.